Messi vs Ronaldo: Gerrard summed up difference when picking five-a-side team

Steven Gerrard is one of the greatest midfielders football has seen in the last few decades.

The Liverpool legend may not have claimed the Premier League during his career at Anfield but he won the biggest club prize of them all – the Champions League.

During his time with Liverpool and England, Gerrard played with some world-class players including the likes of Xabi Alonso, Wayne Rooney and Fernando Torres.

But who are the best players he played against?

Well, that exact question was asked by his former Liverpool teammate Jamie Carragher during an episode of ‘The Greatest Game with Jamie Carragher’ podcast. But instead of naming an XI, Gerrard had to name a five-a-side team.

Interestingly, Gerrard went for Messi over Ronaldo and gave some pretty interesting explanations for his picks.

“Buffon, the best goalkeeper I have played against.”

“I would go Maldini, he was a hero of mine. One-club man, a lot of European Cups – and a good-looking f***er too.”

“I am going to go attacking with the three best players I have played against. Zidane, the stuff he could do. His legs were always in control of the ball. His big feet – they were like hands! He could just caress the ball. He used to glide.

“He was just a god. You got freaks in football and he was a freak for me.”

“My favourite Barcelona team is still the Ronaldinho team. He had a two, three year spell when he was on his own. He did things on a pitch where you think ‘f***ing hell, how has he done that?’.”

“There are certain players who are on a different level to anyone else out there, Messi and Ronaldo,” he said.

“But Ronaldo doesn’t get in my team. I am more about what you are going to do for the team. What are we going to achieve together? Ronaldo will win you things but